Witwatersrand Shifts to Dirt in Forward Gal

A graded stakes winner last year on synthetic, Witwatersrand  tests another surface Feb. 3 when she races seven furlongs on dirt in the $125,000 Forward Gal Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park.

Winner of the 2023 Mazarine Stakes (G3) at Woodbine on Tapeta, Witwatersrand is drawn outside in post seven for the Forward Gal, facing stakes winners Kissedbyanangel , Chi Chi , R Harper Rose , and the graded placed Scalable . Also in the field are Fiona's Magic , a winner of two straight in South Florida, and Nikitis , a maiden winner at Aqueduct Racetrack Dec. 1.

A first-out winner Sept. 1 at Woodbine for trainer Mark Casse and owners D. J. Stable and Quintessential Racing Florida, Witwatersrand was subsequently purchased by Gary Barber from last fall's Fasig-Tipton October Digital Sale, where she topped the auction for $230,000.

Remaining in the Casse stable at Woodbine, she finished third in the Glorious Song Stakes Oct. 15 before proving a handy winner of the 1 1/16-mile Mazarine Nov. 4 by 2 3/4 lengths.

Her Pedigree

• A daughter of Cigar Mile Handicap (G1) winner Connect  , Witwatersrand has grass influences on the female side of her pedigree. She is out of the winning Medaglia d'Oro   mare Carta De Oro , whose lone win came on grass, and her second dam, the Smart Strike mare Communique , was a graded stakes winner on turf and also multiple grade 1-placed on that surface.
• The first foal to race out of Carta De Oro, Strong Embrace , won her only race on synthetic, and her next, Letter of Gold , ran her best race when second on grass at Saratoga Race Course.

Witwatersrand has repeatedly breezed on dirt this winter in South Florida, first at Palm Meadows Trainer Center and later at Gulfstream Park. Paco Lopez rides the 9-2 shot on the morning line.

Though yet to win a stakes race, Repole Stable's Scalable is the morning-line favorite at 9-5. As a maiden, she twice raced in graded stakes last year, finishing second in the Chandelier Stakes (G2) before a fifth-place finish in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), both at Santa Anita Park. Returned to maiden company in her fourth start—she had been fifth prior against maidens at Saratoga last summer before racing at Santa Anita—she won by six lengths Jan. 4 at Gulfstream for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher over a mile trip.

"She's a filly that can go longer and can handle two turns, but cutting back to seven-eighths is probably OK, too. We just felt like this is an opportunity for her to take a shot at winning a graded stake," Pletcher said. 

Bentornato, Legalize Head Swale; Born Noble, Merit Battle in Allowance

About a half hour before the Forward Gal, nine 3-year-old males race seven furlongs in the $125,000 Swale Stakes.

Likely to benefit from racing a shorter distance is Leon King Stable's Bentornato , who, after winning four races around one turn last year, faltered in finishing third in the In Reality division of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes Dec. 2 at 1 1/16 miles.

Irad Ortiz Jr. picks up the mount on the Florida-bred son of Valiant Minister   for trainer Jose D'Angelo.

The Swale attracted entrants who have raced all over the country, including Legalize , winner of the Sugar Bowl Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Dec. 30.

Three races before the Swale, 3-year-old males are also in action in the sixth race, a first-level allowance optional claiming race. There, debut winners Born Noble  and Merit  stretch out in distance after overpowering maiden wins late last year.